Although Gu Yan had said she could crawl back the rest of the way, she still collapsed at the entrance of the Night Organization, grievously injured.
In the final moment before losing consciousness, the only thought left in her mind was—
This guy… why did he throw me so far away…
---
On the way back.
Gu Yan casually tossed the jade pendant into the system space.
This was the safest option.
The system space was a function he had only discovered not long ago—an infinite storage space that could hold anything. Absolutely secure.
A very good function.
The scenery outside the car window flashed by, but Gu Yan's gaze was calm to the extreme.
Half of the Dragon King Jade was now in his hands.
As for the other half… it would have to be taken slowly.
Because if nothing unexpected happened, Xiao Lin would be bailed out tomorrow morning and taken to the Bai family. Rushing things now would only cause unnecessary trouble.
But—
Gu Yan suddenly thought of something amusing.
In the original novel, the Bai family had never actually known Xiao Lin.
They only recognized the Dragon King Jade.
The reason they went to save him was entirely because of a letter sent long ago by the old master of the Dragon King Palace.
The letter stated that a young man he favored—named Xiao Lin—would soon arrive in Jianghai.
Because of that letter, the Bai family head firmly believed Xiao Lin was the future master of the Dragon King Palace.
And when he saw the half Dragon King Jade on Xiao Lin, his suspicions vanished completely.
That was why he chose to befriend him.
But now—
That jade was gone.
Gu Yan didn't even know how the plot would unfold from here.
Thinking about it made him want to laugh.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly.
Buzz—
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Gu Yan glanced at the screen. An unfamiliar number.
He was about to hang up, but after a brief pause, he answered.
The next second, a woman's voice came through—complex, suppressed, as if she had already resigned herself to fate.
"Gu Yan… it's Shen Wan'er."
---
At the Shen family residence.
Shen Wan'er sat on the edge of her bed, eyes exhausted.
The incident at her company—security guards killing several people—had caused a massive shock. Panic spread among employees who had only just begun to trust her.
She had no choice.
She needed to resolve the company's crisis as soon as possible.
On the other end, Gu Yan smiled faintly.
So it's finally here.
"Miss Shen," he said leisurely, "what do you want to see me for?"
Then, as if deliberately twisting the knife, he added, "Why aren't you calling from your old number?"
Shen Wan'er clenched her fists.
His mocking tone made her eyes redden with grievance.
"Gu Yan… do you really have to be like this…?"
Once upon a time, she had always spoken to him from a position of superiority.
Now, her voice sounded weak and low.
"Alright," Gu Yan said lightly. "Let's talk business."
"Come to my house tomorrow."
He paused briefly. "Resolve everything before noon. Bring your sincerity."
Shen Wan'er bit her lip.
Shame and unwillingness flashed through her eyes—but in the end, she loosened her grip, as if giving in.
"…I know."
Click.
The call ended.
Shen Wan'er sat there for a long time, staring blankly out the window.
Finally, she stood up and walked to the closet.
She picked up an expensive piece of lingerie at random. Looking at the clothes she usually only dared to wear at home, her vision blurred.
She hugged the clothes tightly, tears falling uncontrollably.
Thinking of Gu Yan's cold expression, she sobbed softly.
"Why… why are you treating me like this…"
You weren't like this before…
---
Gu Yan put away his phone and spoke calmly to Lao Gao.
"Tell Auntie to buy some ingredients tomorrow."
"And Lao Gao, go send Ling'er off as well."
It had been a long time since he cooked for Qingqiu.
Tomorrow, he would settle Shen Wan'er's matter early—
Then go to the Leng residence before noon and cook for Qingqiu.
Just thinking about it made him feel relaxed.
Lao Gao hesitated slightly while driving.
He had heard Shen Wan'er's voice earlier. She was clearly coming to the Gu residence tomorrow.
Could it be that the young master is turning back into Shen Wan'er's devoted fool again…?
But he quickly shook his head.
He was just a bodyguard. No need to overthink it.
"Understood, young master."
After a pause, Lao Gao asked, "Should Auntie send the ingredients back home?"
"Home?" Gu Yan was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
"No one's eating at home tomorrow."
"I'll cook for Qingqiu at noon. Just send the ingredients over."
Now it was Lao Gao's turn to freeze.
"…Okay, young master."
I really can't figure out what the young master is thinking anymore…
---
That night.
A tea restaurant.
Five thousand meters underground.
Inside a pure white ward.
"I'm so useless," Bai Lian sneered with arms crossed, staring at Mei Xue lying on the bed, heavily bandaged.
"I was beaten this badly by a junior."
"If the master had sent me back then, I'd have already made that so-called young master of the Dragon King Palace kill himself."
Mei Xue remained silent.
Her injuries were severe. The constant collision of golden true qi had damaged her internal organs.
An ordinary person would've died countless times over.
"What? Hit a sore spot?" Bai Lian provoked. "So you won't talk?"
Still no response.
Bai Lian snorted. "Hmph. If I hadn't sensed your aura and saved you, you'd be dead already."
This time, Mei Xue moved.
She turned her head slightly, looked at Bai Lian, and said flatly:
"Thank you."
"…!"
Bai Lian stiffened.
She hadn't expected gratitude at all.
"You actually said thank you?"
Then she scoffed. "But if the master had sent you, you probably wouldn't even have crawled back."
?
A question mark practically appeared above Bai Lian's head.
Her face darkened. "Haha. I really hate you, woman."
Just then, the middle-aged shop manager in sunglasses walked over.
He coughed lightly. "Enough."
"We didn't expect the young master of the Dragon King Palace to be a master-level expert."
"This has already been reported to the master."
He glanced at Mei Xue.
"As for you—the master said that if you go see her tomorrow, she'll personally heal your injuries."
Mei Xue froze, then nodded.
"…Understood."
Her tone carried faint self-blame.
Bai Lian muttered unwillingly, "Messed up the mission and still gets the master's favor. I really don't get it."
She shrugged and walked away.
---
The Leng residence.
Leng Qingqiu frowned slightly.
She hadn't expected the young master of the Dragon King Palace to be a master.
Mei Xue's defeat was understandable.
It seemed the target needed to be reassessed.
But—
Why was Gu Yan involved?
According to her subordinates' investigation, Xiao Lin knew Wang Yulan.
And Xiao Lin was arrested because Gu Yan called the police.
A master… arrested… because of Gu Yan.
It was inevitable that resentment would follow.
Although Gu Yan's housekeeper was strong, he couldn't always be by Gu Yan's side.
If Xiao Lin retaliated…
That would be troublesome.
No. That can't happen.
Of course, it's not because I'm worried about Gu Yan, Leng Qingqiu told herself.
He's my servant. I can't let anything happen to him.
Besides… his cooking really is good.
She lay on the bed, staring at the book in her hands, unable to focus.
Gu Yan didn't seem to say whether he was coming tomorrow…
What a worrying man.